Moves in Curves

Having just re-read the book and re-watched the 1995 film, I watched the 2008 miniseries version. And since I can’t tweet everything (or I’ll overflow my allowed updates per day), I recorded my thoughts in a notepad for sharing here. Enjoy.

• People have their hair down WAAAY more often than his proper (Lady Middleton? Hello!).
• Willoughby, while certainly a bigger bastard than as portrayed in the 1995 film version, is not handsome and dashing enough for the character. The ’95 film Willoughby was hotter, but more sympathetically portrayed.
• Mrs. Dashwood is far too calm. Really. Way too calm.
• I prefer the Margaret in the 1995 film, though this one is certainly cute.
• Marianne, while quite pretty (I want her hair), is also too calm. She barely cried at all. Kate Winslet’s hysterics and wild emotions were much more accurate to the character. And if she’s going to be out and about in society as an adult, for God’s sake put her hair UP. She doesn’t say enough rude things to people either – in the books she’s always spouting off inappropriately.
• Edward Ferrars is SO HOT in this one. His eyes are gorgeous. I totally loved him. I don’t mind Hugh Grant in the role, he was all right – but I love this guy. Although this version of Edward is a bit too animated for the way the character was written in the original book.
• Colonel Brandon is like a poor man’s Liam Neeson, but I did like him.
• Barton Cottage is the cutest house ever. And right on the beach. I want to live there!
• Elinor was quite good – the right age – though it’s hard to top Emma Thompson in any role, she’s just so damn wonderful).
• The Dashwood daughters always seem far more poor in the movie versions than they did in the book.
• The “money/happiness” discussion was a bit odd, I thought. It made Elinor seem a little too focused on riches. Edward’s response, I don’t know, the way they did that seemed to have little to do with either character in the book?
• All the men seem to be too old for their parts – Sir John and Mr. Palmer are both supposed to be about 26, but Mark Williams (much as I love him) is far too old.
• Lady Middleton’s hairdo is bothering the hell out of me. Put your hair up, for crying out loud!
• Anne Steele looks like Lily Tomlin. And she’s just as annoying as she’s characterized in the book.
• Lucy Steele always seems to be made out so sweet and innocent onscreen, when she’s very blatantly sly and bitchy in the books, especially toward Elinor.
• I didn’t think Mrs. Jennings was boisterous enough in this version – the 1995 movie Mrs. Jennings is so perfect though, it’s hard to top her.
• Elinor’s voice is so lovely. Very rich and cultured, just perfect for her character I think.
• Kind of sad that they left out the Robert Ferrars toothpick case scene, since that so well characterizes him – but, it’s hard to screw up that character. He’s a weaselly little jerk. No redeeming qualities.
• Miss Grey’s feather headdress is friggin’ sweet.
• Brandon is far more romantic in this version than in the 95 (though obviously, who doesn’t love Alan Rickman? Still, this is better). When he catches Marianne in her ballroom faint, that’s kind of hot. She’s too young for him, though. He needs a more mature woman. The duel scene? Hot. Kick Willoughby’s ass.
• Marianne’s crying scene after being snubbed by Willoughby in London is close to the book but not as well done as Kate Winslet’s performance.
• Brandon revealing Willoughby’s seduction of Miss Williams is a little too overwrought. And too indelicately put.
• I know, I’m a purist about movie versions of books.
• Margaret Dashwood is a far more interesting character onscreen than she is in the book. She has very little to her in the book, and they make her a proto-feminist or adventurer onscreen. It does make her more interesting, but less accurate.
• Fanny and John Dashwood are assholes. So are the Steele sisters.
• Marianne giving Mrs. Ferrars a set-down was freakin’ hilarious.
• Edward’s “oh… shit” look when he sees Lucy Steele with Elinor cracks me up. He could not more obviously want nothing to do with her.
• The little boy playing Harry Dashwood (the little boy of John and Fanny) reminds me of young Lex Luthor on Smallville. Pre-Kryptonite loss of his hair, that is.
• The under-the-blanket conversation between Marianne and Elinor – WTF?
• Mr. Palmer wasn’t nearly so amusing in this version. Hugh Laurie was quite possibly the perfect person for that role, however, so whoever this guy was could hardly compare.
• Oooh. Brandon rescuing Marianne (um, why was she just laying down in the rain?) was pretty romantic. Him visiting her alone in her room, however – wildly inappropriate for the time period.
• I am very glad the Elinor-Willougby conversation was included, even though it was altered pretty hugely. That was a big part of him showing what a bastard he really is in the book. I do think they should have included the bit when he wishes his wife would die so he could marry Marianne (ass!). Though of course, Marianne overhearing was an unnecessary departure.
• Colonel Brandon’s carriage is pretty awesome. I want a carriage like that. Wouldn’t say no to his house, either.
• Marianne’s dress in the Delaford library scene is really pretty. Very nice cut. I love Regency fashion.
• Elinor’s happy tears when Edward doesn’t marry Lucy are much better in this version. And of course, actual kisses are very satisfying. Not to say that Emma Thompson isn’t a great actress, but her bursting into tears was pretty fake. This seemed quite real.
• Very sweet. Excellent version.